last connection - alex , dan-san , norman et al

[Gregvan]

OOPS! Sorry, David. I really understood who was who, I just was in a hurry late at night when I'm tired. Sorry about that. I've edited my post.

Thanks for your understanding. It sounds like you have some fantastic material and we are all interested in seeing it shared - very generous of you.

I believe I have the stereoview of the Sopwith Snipe you referenced.

Greg

['14-'18aviationcollector]

No problem Greg!

I know that feeling, I sometimes write things here or elsewhere late at night and it's very easy to make mistakes under those circumstances. I was reasonably sure that you knew who is who. I just don't want Gerald's collection to sit in the corner at home and not to be enjoyed by anyone who would like to see the beautiful and historically significant photos that he has collected. I am building on this collection every day. I would say that I have about 6,000 photos of WW1 aeroplanes and associated subjects by now, thanks to the great and mighty eBay! ... I have even bid against aerogreg from time to time, but am outbid every time! At least I know that when this happens it is going to a very good home, and it will more than likely be published. I would like very much to publish some work too!

[Breguet]

I was lucky enough to interview and get to know well the last surviving member of 3 Sqn Australian Flying Corps - Harold Edwards. It was a real thrill for me even though he wasn't a pilot. He was a true gentleman. I particularly remember his hundreth Birthday where we flew him to the home of Australian Army Aviation (Oakey in Queensland) for a regimental dinner.

The formal toasts always end with a toast to the regiment - Harold was asked to make it. He got to his feet and said proudly "The Corps" and everyone stood and took the toast with a fine Port. Harold then said, "With such a fine Port we need to say 'en-corps' !" (A play on words in english with encore meaning again). Well he brought the house down. Few of the pilots etc had even met a WWII vet let alone one from WWI! One of them said to me later he would have gladly foregone any alcohol that night if he could have had the pleasure of flying Harold back home - high praise indeed.

Here is a transcript of an interview I did with him:

scroll down

There are others on the site also.

[stephen]

I interviewed or corresponded with about 60 pilots, but my interaction with them was very late in the game... from 1985-1995. A handful of them I got to know quite well; others I met or corresponded with only briefly. I'm unable to spend much time at a puter until Monday, but maybe I can pass something worthwhile along some time next week. Not sure I can match the great stories posted here so far, though... very enjoyable reading.

[rcsruss]

This is a thread in part addressed to you Dan-San.

It has been a week since your medical procedure- Everything go OK? How are you feeling? Are you following Doctor's orders? I am sure everyone here would like to here from you.

Blue skies indeed!

Russ

[crankcase]

Has anyone on this forum met Eddie Rickenbacker?
While living in Zurich, Switzerland, I sent him a fan letter (I was 16 at the time) and irony of ironies, I was in the US for summer vacation in 1973 when we learned that Eddie had died in a Zurich hospital! This was in July. When we got back to Zurich, there was a letter waiting for me from his secretary saying that he had been hospitalized. I still have the letter.
This was one of the great disappointments in my WW1 aviation "experience".
marc

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Gentlemen:
I interviewed around thirty-five some WW1 pilots, 1 Belgien, 3 Fafayette Flying Corp,2 or 3 RFC/RAF types, 2 War Birds, and a bunch of Americans pilots and a couple of ground crew, one from the 27th Pursuit and and one from the 94th Pursuit Squadrons. There was a common thread that ran through the pilots, they were well bred and were educated and successful in business. All these interviews were taped, by a memmber of the San Franciso Chapter of Cross & Cockade Society. Several interviews became articles in the C& C Journal, a couple by my dear Friend Rick Duiven and several by Noel Shirley.
I had a format that I use to control the interview to keep it in chronalogical sequence, which I found worked well except for two interviews. Of all the interviews there was only one which I doubted the veracity of the "story teller."
What I did, was after, they agreed to be interviewed at aq C & C Meeting.
I would meet with them over lunch or dinner and conduct a pre-interview, the purpose of which was to find out what to discuss and what was out of bounds.
A kind of getting to know you. Then a second lunch when I then did a interview of about two hours. Prior to the first meeting, I read up on the pilot found out about victories and decorations, which I would use in the interview. There was no surprize questions, I did not play gotcha!
My first question always was, "Why did you volunteer for the Air Service?" The next question was, "Where did you receive ground training?" I took them one step at a time through their training, front service, etc. By doing this I open their minds to almost total recall of the events that took place.
One pilot I interviewed, that resulted in Patti and I being adopted, was Paul Winslow and his wife Ruth. Our relationship continued after Paul's death and ended with Ruth's death. We both miss them.
All these pilots became high ranking officers in WW2.
One, who had served in the Lafayette Flying Corp became my Commanding Officer of the 61st Fighter Wing as Brigadier General, California National Guard, which I joined after the War. After the interview when our paths would cross, he would always address by my given name. I never addressed him, except in the third person, as, "How is the General today?" I was a Tech Sergeant. He would reply, "Fine Sergeant Abbott!"
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Barrett]

"Carry on Sergeant" has been getting officers promoted for centuries.


I knew Bob Todd (17th) and Ken Porter (147th) tolerably well and was acquainted with Ray Brooks (22nd). If you'd asked me in the 1980s, I would've bet cash money that Ken would be the last WW I ace standing, but he faded in the stretch. Bob and Ken did not get along--we never knew why. I do not think they ever met during the GW, so it must've been something that one or t'other did/said at an aces reunion.

Ken coined one of my very-very favorite sayings: "If you find yourself in a fair fight, you really fouled up." Though he didn't say "fouled."

Ray was a sweet old gentlemen--absolutely charmed the wives of the WW II aces. He used to say "I'm Ray Brooks, or what's left of him." He could absorb a lot of maternal attention.

[Fill]

Gents , I am sure I speak for everyone when I say all these story's are brilliant to read and I hope they keep coming .
A big combined thank you to all posters for all these great memories your sharing .
Also don't forget , we younger gens are really keen to hear about how these interviews/talks felt for you .
Mr Abbott , what was it like at these pre-interview dinners ?. Would there be any great memories from those that you would be kind enough to share with us please ? .
Mr Revell ...are you out there somewhere ?... or are you off playing in your jazz band ?..
And all posters ...would love to hear more ......

[normanf]

I am happy to agree that a compilation of these recollections that many of us have had over the years would prove of great interest. I met several WW1 aces and other pilots and have a box file full of correspondence from others. However, the writer in me feels it would be much better to have them all under one cover rather than piece-meal here. I wonder perhaps if someone like Osprey Publishing would think it a plan to have them written up and published in one of their soft-cover books? Any thoughts guys? Norman Franks